Apply for a European Professional Card

To apply for the European Professional Card, you need an online account with the European Commission.

• The online account with the European Commission is free of charge. You register with the authentication service of the European Commission ("EU Login").
• You then create your profile with your personal details (ID card or passport number, name, nationality) and your contact details (address, e-mail address, telephone number, etc.). Your personal details will appear on your European Professional Card.
• Once you have created your profile, you can apply for the European Professional Card. To do this, go to the European Commission's European Professional Card website and select "Access to the EBA procedure".
• When applying, you will find out which documents the host country requires for the recognition of your professional qualification. You can upload the documents directly. Please upload each document as a separate file.
• The responsible office will process your application and may forward it to the responsible office in the host country for further processing.
• Once you have sent your application, you can no longer change your personal details. Only the office responsible for processing your application can update it. However, you can update your contact details at any time.
• Once your application has been approved, you can create an EBA certificate in PDF format. The EBA certificate contains a reference number. Your future employer can use this reference number to check the validity of your European Professional Card online.
• If your application is rejected, you will receive a notification. You can take legal action against the decision of the competent authority. The decision will then be reviewed. Details can be found in the information on legal remedies at the end of your decision. We recommend that you first speak to the competent authority before taking legal action against the decision.

Note: The competent authority in your country of origin will confirm within one week that your documents have arrived. It will inform you whether any documents are missing.

More information

For other professional qualifications, you must go through the regular recognition procedures of the host country. You can obtain further information from the responsible Single Point of Contact.

• The documents required depend on the profession for which you are applying for the European Professional Card. The electronic application assistant on the European Commission's website will tell you which documents are required.
  
  • As a rule, the following documents are required:
    
    • Proof of identity (passport or identity card)
    • If your name has changed: Your marriage certificate or a corresponding official document
    • Curriculum vitae
    • Diploma or certificate of your professional qualification
    • Proof that you are authorized to practice the profession in your country of origin and have not been convicted of any criminal offense (Certificate of Good Standing)
    • Possibly a certificate of conformity
    • Possibly a health certificate
    • Proof that you have not committed any criminal offenses in your country of origin (police clearance certificate)
  • Note: You may need to have the documents translated into the language of the host country. The translations must be made by publicly appointed or authorized translators.

Costs may be incurred in the country of origin and the host country for processing your application. The costs vary depending on the country and profession.
You can estimate the costs in advance on the European Commission's website on the European Professional Card.
Additional costs may also be incurred (e.g. for translations and notarization of your documents). These costs vary from country to country.

What deadlines must be paid attention to?

18 months Period of validity of the European Professional Card for temporary work (service)
12 months If your profession could have an impact on public health and safety and is not automatically recognized (e.g. physiotherapists and mountain guides)
For permanent employment (branch office): indefinite

How long does it take to process

The processing time depends on your profession and whether you wish to work temporarily or permanently in the host country. If your profession could have an impact on public health and safety, a special check may be required in the host country.

Temporary work (service)
- Maximum of 3 weeks if no special check is required in the host country.
- Maximum 4 months if a special check is required in the host country. The competent authority in the country of origin will review your application within a maximum of one month. The competent authority in the host country will then decide within a maximum of 3 months.

Permanent activity (settlement)
- Maximum of 4 months for professions without automatic recognition. The competent authority in the country of origin will review your application in a maximum of one month. The competent authority in the host country will then decide within a maximum of 3 months.
- Maximum of 3 months for professions with automatic recognition (pharmacists, nurses). The competent authority in the country of origin will review your application within a maximum of one month. The competent authority in the host country will then decide within a maximum of 2 months.

Note: If the competent authority in the host country does not make a decision within the specified time period, your professional qualification is automatically recognized.

• Artikel 4a - 4f Richtlinie 2005/36/EG über die Anerkennung von Berufsqualifikationen
• Durchführungsverordnung (EU) 2015/983 betreffend das Verfahren zur Ausstellung des Europäischen Berufsausweises

• Authentifizierungsdienst der Europäischen Kommission („EU Login“)
• Informationen zum Europäischen Berufsausweis auf der Internetseite der Europäischen Kommission
• Portal Anerkennung in Deutschland - Beratungssuche
• Informationsportal der Bundesregierung zur Anerkennung von ausländischen Bildungsabschlüssen
• Informationen zu einheitlichen Ansprechpartnern in Deutschland auf der Internetseite des Bundeswirtschaftsministeriums
• Informationen zu einheitlichen Ansprechpartnern in Europa auf der Internetseite der Europäischen Kommission